Design and Build a Small Airship

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Design and Build of a Small Airship

Maziar Arjomandi

Nicholas James Bartel, Michael Jens-Christian Nordestgaard and Lachlan Ravenscroft

(Commenced: 01-Jan-2007,Concluded: 12-Dec-2007)

Maziar Arjomandi

Nicholas James Bartel

Michael Jens-Christian Nordestgaard

Lachlan Ravenscroft

This honours project involved the design, build and flight testing of a small-scale airship for surveillance, aerial photography and advertising purposes. The airship was designed to be capable of continuous indoor flight for 30 minutes carrying a 500g payload while maintaining a constant altitude. The methodology and outcomes of similar university research projects were examined to gain a better understanding of airship design principles.

Four distinct flight regimes were considered: takeoff, hover, cruise and landing. Flight parameters such as maximum speed, cruise altitude and takeoff time were defined so that a theoretical force analysis could be conducted. The thrust required in each flight regime was then determined based on calculation of the lift, weight and drag forces.

Four sections were identified as crucial in the airship design: the envelope, gondola, propulsion system and control system. An iterative procedure was developed to optimise the envelope design based on the weight of components and the lifting force needed to achieve neutral buoyancy. The conceptual design of the gondola focussed on reducing weight whilst still having enough strength to support the weight of the internal components. Ducted fans powered by electric motors were chosen to provide propulsion to the airship. The effects of different fan arrangements on airship manoeuvrability were then analysed. The thrust output of the ducted fans was controlled by manual and automatic systems. An RC hand unit provided full manual control while the cruise altitude and pitch of the airship were maintained automatically using an ultrasonic sensor and clinometer, respectively.

The detailed design was developed using the most suitable concept design alternatives. Components such as motors, fans, batteries and automatic control parts were selected based on technical suitability and budget limitations. The final design used a commercially manufactured envelope propelled by four ducted fans, each with variable thrust output. Two manually controlled fans on the side of the gondola were used for yaw control while two downward facing fans provide upward thrust and pitch control.

Testing of all individual components was conducted prior to testing of the completed airship. This ensured that the ducted fans, radio controller, camera and automatic control system operated correctly. Two airship envelopes were manufactured and each was tested in a full flight test with the gondola attached. The two flight tests demonstrated that the automatic control system functioned as designed and could be used simultaneously with the manual control system. The flight tests also showed that the airship was capable of meeting the performance requirements set in the project definition.

The majority of the project goals were achieved in the two flight tests. It is hoped that the work undertaken in the project could be adapted and refined by final year students in the future to design an airship capable of outdoor flight with a more advanced control system.

Project Deliverables

Final report

Poster

Image Galleries:

Movie of the airship (100MB)